Around this point in the summer, I start hearing a version of the same thing from a lot of families.

“We’re going to start applications soon.”

On the surface, that sounds like you’re in a good place.

The Common Application is open. The prompts are there. It feels like the next step is just to log in and get started.

What I usually try to figure out at that point is whether the student is actually ready to do that in a meaningful way.

Because opening the application is easy. Being ready to use it is something different.

When I sit down with families in Brookfield, Greendale, Glendale, and the surrounding communities, there are a few things I am looking for before I feel good about where things stand.

The first is the college list.

That does not mean every school is finalized, but it should be stable enough that the student understands where they are applying and why. If the list is still shifting, or if there are still big questions about fit or cost, starting applications tends to feel like you are building on something that is not quite set yet.

The second is testing.

For some students, that means they are done. For others, it means there is one more test planned with a clear reason behind it. What I am trying to avoid is a situation where testing is still an open question while applications are being filled out.

The third is the essay.

This does not need to be finished, but there should be something to work with. A clear idea, a draft that is moving in the right direction, or at least a sense of what the student is trying to communicate.

If the essay is still at the point where the student is not sure what to write about, starting applications tends to make everything feel more rushed than it needs to be.

None of this is meant to suggest that a student needs to have everything perfect before they begin.

It is more about whether the pieces are in place well enough that starting the application actually moves things forward.

What I see this time of year is that some students are in that position. They can start filling things out, begin working on supplements, and keep building momentum.

Others open the application and realize that they still have some foundational decisions to make.

If you have a current junior in Waukesha, Pewaukee, Oak Creek, or nearby communities, this is a good moment to pause and ask a simple question.

If we opened the application today, would we be ready to use it?

If the answer is yes, that is a good place to be.

If the answer is not quite, that is still very workable. It just means the next step is to focus on getting those pieces in place so that when you do start, it feels like you are moving forward instead of catching up.